Top German Gov't Advisor Urges Direct US-Iran Talks

Berlin, Jan 17, IRNA -- A senior German government advisor on the Middle East here Wednesday called for direct US- Iran talks aimed at settling their differences. Talking to the Deutschland radio station, the head of the Berlin-based German Institute for International Politics and Security (SWP), Volker Perthes stressed the need for direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Certain political blockades can only be broken once Americans and Iranians talk to one another. Both have to speak with one another --so far this has taken place-- as both sides are waiting for the other side to take the first step, he added. Asked about prospects for resuming nuclear talks between Iran and western powers, Perthes stressed negotiations should be directed at de-escalation and getting closer to a resolution of the row over Tehran's nuclear program. He also dismissed Israeli military threats against Iran, saying it was "partly an election campaign tactic." Perthes pointed out that the military threats of the Zionist regime against Tehran were also geared at arm-twisting Europe and America to agree to tougher Iran sanctions./end